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For many young South American talents, crossing the Atlantic to begin a football career in Europe is a familiar step. Yet for Brazilian prodigy Endrick, the move carried a unique emotional weight.

Having made a name for himself early on with Palmeiras, the teenage striker swiftly became one of world football’s most sought-after prospects, attracting attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid eventually secured his signature, with Endrick joining the Spanish giants shortly after making his senior debut for Brazil in March 2024.

In true Real Madrid fashion, the club unveiled their new €60 million signing at a packed Santiago Bernabéu in July 2024, just days after Kylian Mbappe’s grand introduction to the Madrid fans.

“It was a very emotional moment,” Endrick told FourFourTwo. “I didn’t expect there would be so many people present, especially since Mbappe had been introduced first. I thought maybe around 5,000 fans would show up for mine at most.

“But when I stepped into the stadium, the crowd was enormous. From that first day, I thanked God for the privilege of wearing the shirt of the biggest club in the world and for the thousands of fans who came to welcome me. It was incredible, and that reception made me so happy. As it had been my childhood dream, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Football moves quickly – things can change in an instant. I’m also very grateful to Lyon for the chance they’ve given me, but when I joined Real Madrid, I imagined it would be the second and last club of my career after Palmeiras. It’s hard to put into words what I felt that day. I’ll never forget that moment or the warmth of all the fans who came to welcome me.”

With such a grand introduction came equally big expectations. Did he feel pressure to deliver from the start?

“Actually, no,” the Brazilian admitted. “I had just arrived, and most of the focus was on Mbappe, who joined as the number nine and starting striker that season. I probably played 15 minutes per match at most, so I didn’t feel much pressure. Also, when I came off the bench, I managed to score goals, win penalties, and create danger for the opposition.

“When I say I didn’t feel any pressure, it’s more from an individual perspective, because at Real Madrid, the pressure for team success is always immense.”

Endrick soon made his mark, scoring on both his club and Champions League debuts after coming off the bench. However, with limited playing time in Madrid’s star-studded attack, he moved on loan to Olympique Lyonnais in January. So when did he realise that minutes on the pitch were going to be hard to come by?

“That’s hard to pinpoint,” he explained. “For me, my first year at the club was excellent. At 18, you don’t usually arrive at a club like Real Madrid as a starter – that only happens in rare cases. During my first season, I came off the bench and scored goals in the Copa del Rey. But in my second year, the coach changed; the new manager, Xabi Alonso, didn’t know me well, and I was also returning from an injury.

“I wasn’t getting many minutes, so my team and I quickly realised that opportunities would be limited, and we didn’t want to wait. In the first transfer window, the best decision was to leave and continue developing my football. Coming to Lyon has been amazing because I’m getting regular playing time, and that’s what every player hopes for.”